y, a reign of terror in times of profound peace, of
which Austria might be ashamed. We have seen it year by year
driving out from our genial climate, and fruitful soil, and
exhaustless natural resources, some of the men of the very best
energy, talent and skill among our population. We have seen
also, in times of peace, the liberty of speech taken away, the
freedom of the press abolished, and the willing minions of this
system, in hunting down their victims, spare from degradation
and insult neither the young, nor the gray-haired veteran of
seventy winters, whose every thought was as free from offense
against society as is that of the infant of days.

When an evil attains this extent, he is a poor citizen, a poor cowardly
dallier with opinions, whatever his fighting mark may be, who can make
up his mind to calmly acquiesce in establishing its permanence, or to
stiffly oppose every movement and every suggestion tending in the least
towards its abrogation.

* * * * *

In the present number of the CONTINENTAL will be found an article on
General LYON, in which reference is made to the generally credited
assertion, that the deceased hero was not reinforced as he desired
during the campaign in Missouri. This is one of the questions which time
alone will properly answer. In accordance with the principles involved
in _audi alteram partem_, we give on this subject the following
abridgment of a portion of General FREMONT'S defense, published in the
New York _Tribune_ of March 6:--

Lyon's and Prentiss's troops were nearly all three months men,
whose term of enlistment was about expiring. Arms and money were
wanted, but men offered in abundance. The three months men had
not been paid. The Home Guards were willing to remain in the
service, but their families were destitute. Gen. Fremont wrote
to the President, stating his difficulties, and informing him
that he should peremptorily order the United States Treasurer
there to pay over to his paymaster-general the money in his
possession, sending a force at the same time to take the money.
He received no reply, and assumed that his purpose was approved.

Five days after he arrived at St. Louis he went to Cairo, taking
three thousand eight hundred men for its reinforcement. He says
that Springfield was a week's march, and before he could have
reached it, C